Micro-surfacing projects on the cards for Fermoy MD

Two micro-surfacing projects are expected to get underway this year in the Fermoy MD under the 2024 draft roads programme.

Last year saw the first microsurfacing scheme carried out in the region and with road programmes for this year due to get underway, Cllr Deirdre O’Brien enquired as to whether the region would see more of the new method employed locally.

Similar to a slurry seal, micro-surfacing consists of the application of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate and chemical additives to an existing asphalt concrete pavement surface, applied in order to help preserve and protect the underlying pavement structure and to provide a new driving surface.

Senior engineer with Cork County Council, Brendan O’Gorman, outlined that while it has yet to be defined within the new roads programmes, one or two micro-surfacing projects will feature.

“Out of 30.6 kilometres, there will probably be about 2km of that we expect will be microsurfaced. Not every road will be suitable for that so we have to be very careful as to what project we pick for that, but we will support it in 2024,” Mr O’Gorman said.

Cllr O’Brien commended the project carried out in the Billeragh area of Araglin that saw micro-surfacing used, acknowledging that while it can be a bumpy texture, the road is solid and intact, with no potholes yet formed.

Mr O’Gorman noted that micro-surfacing is a colder material, complying with energy reduction quotas and is a thinner material, more suitable to avoid subsidence on the road at Billeragh.

“I agree, the drivability of it is not the best, but compared to what it was and for the price that you are getting it for and the fact that it's cold material and you’re complying with energy requirements, it was a good solution,” Mr O’Gorman noted.